Who's the real Monster?

Continuing to use Armstrong's body as a meat shield I patted the sand close to me. Ed slowly came to my side. Using both Armstrong's and my own body I made sure nobody had a clear shot to hit Ed. I didn't need to hear Eric's thoughts to know that if Ed got hurt there would be Hell to pay.

Ed curled their big body around mine easily. He even nuzzled his head onto my lap. Carefully raising my hand I asked "Is it still ok if I pet you?" They purred in response. Gently running my fingers through his fur Ed continued to purr, especially when I lightly scratched in between his ears. Am I turning into a real life James Bond villain I thought. Nightmare stifled a chuckle.

Looking up at the right time I caught Captain Gonzalez about to speak "I have news." Ed stopped purring to follow my gaze and give a snap of their jaws in response. "I'm listening" I responded. "My men and I will be leaving" he said with an undertone of fury. Unable to tell if he was lying or not I wasn't going to put Ed in danger again.

I told them "Go to the tree line". Ed let out a whimper. "I'll be safe" I promised him with a gentle tussle of fur. "Don't shoot!" I yelled while standing to my feet. With all eyes and guns pointed at me again I made sure Ed was safe before doing something I know I'll regret later. Or so Nightmare kept telling me.

"Before you leave take this piece of garbage with you" I said while raising Armstrong with my tendrils. When he was at Captain Gonzalez's eye level he took a step back for me to lay him down on the floor. Soldiers scrambled to Armstrong's side.

"When he wakes up he'll wish he was dead" I told him with a deadly tone.

Someone yelled "Get this man to the med bay".

"Humph I knew you were bluffing" Captain Gonzalez replied.

"Unlike you I don't need machines or even my bare hands to take and give life."

Captain Gonzalez just glared at me in silence.

"Personally I don't play politics, keep that in mind if you ever come back." I could see veins begin to protrude from his neck and temples. "Make sure to tell this to Ripley 'Leave all of us alone. This island is now ours.'"

He subtly nodded with a clenched jaw. I caught the sound of someone mumbling 'damn monsters'.

"I'd watch what your men say Captain." He turned to a soldier to his left. Catching the soldier's eyes was the biggest mistake he'd ever make again. Nightmare took that small amount of time to figure out his greatest fear. Spiders? In seconds the soldier started swatting at himself while saying "Get them off me".

Captain Gonzalez looked from him to me. With a smirk I said "I'm the only monster here. If you or anyone else tries to come back I won't hesitate to show you how." Let him go I told Nightmare. With reluctance Nightmare did so.

Keeping my lips curled Captain Gonzalez's scowl deepened. "Captain, what are you orders, Sir?" Master Chief Petty Offer Halo asked. Captain Gonzalez held my gaze for a long stare. When he blinked first Nightmare turned my smirk into a grin.

"All hands to your stations we're setting sail" Captain Gonzalez ordered his men. Holding my ground I watched as the ship left without any retaliation.

Once it was completely out of sight my shoulders relaxed as I let out a heavy sigh. We've got company Nightmare warned me. Can't have a moment's peace I thought.

Turning around to see everyone who was hiding come out of the tree line. All of them probably heard and saw what happened just now. My eyes landed on Matt rushing to me. He closed the distance between us with a brisk run to embrace me. I barely had enough time to brace myself for the sudden touch. With Matt's arms around me he held me tightly. After a few seconds he dropped his forehead on my shoulder to whisper "I was so worried". I hugged him back tightly letting him know without words that I felt the same way.

Looking over Matt's shoulder my eyes landed on Ed next. They were in his human form now. Unsure why they were just wearing pants my eyes landed on a scar where their stomach should be. Matt let me go to give me my sunglasses back. Stepping away Ed came within arms length of me.

Time felt like it froze with them looking deeply into my eyes. Unable to stay still I was in the process of putting on my sunglasses. Closing my eyes to get ready for the darkness again Ed quickly pulled me into a hug. Slightly caught off guard my feet fumbled forward, my face smashed into his chest, and my hands let go of my sunglasses. Ed held me tighter to keep both of us upright. Turning my head to get comfortable I could hear his heart beating in my ear. I've never really had skin to skin contact with anyone before. Given the circumstances I should've broken out of his grasp by now, instead I held him just as tightly. Its been a long time since I've felt safe.

Feeling the others get closer I was about to say something when Ed whispered in my ear "I'm glad you're ok."

Slowly lowering my hands Ed side stepped toward Matt for everyone to see me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Matt hand Ed my sunglasses. They offered me my sunglasses again. Taking the sign of trust I told them softly "Thank you." With my sunglasses in hand I contemplated putting them on.

Let them see Nightmare told me.

Inhaling deeply I replied They won't see me, only you.

We are now one, everyone needs to know that.

Again, there is no 'we' you're just using me as a host.

You know that's not true.

It is. I'm just a meat suite for you to live in. Nothing more.

Whatever you say Nightmare replied with a sense of defeat.

For some reason that phrase cut deep. A memory started coming to mind.

A gentle touch broke me out of my thoughts. Ed had used a couple of their fingers to touch my elbow. Looking up at him I didn't see any fear in their eyes. "Are you ok?", they asked. Tucking my sunglasses onto my shirt I replied "I am now, thanks."

Ed was about to ask me something when I cut them off by saying "Later". Looking ahead to see Eric with a determined look on his face. Shelly by his side holding hands and Hannah right behind both of them. Her eyes looked irritated, she must've been crying for awhile.

"What happened just now?" Eric asked me.

"I made an example out of Armstrong. From now on the military will no longer interfere with us. Everyone aside from Anderson and the guards left on that ship."

"How do we know that for sure? Won't someone want to retaliate against us because of what you did?" Hannah asked with a bite in her tone.

Catching the emphasis on 'you' I took a step forward, Ed and Shelly side stepped, and Hannah took a step back. "The Colonel is still alive" I reassured her.

"He is? How?"

"Nightmare inserted a parasite through Armstrong's eye, it traveled to his brain."

"Nightmare? What or who is that?"

"I did say I would go into full detail later on and I will. Since I don't like to repeat myself unless absolutely necessary I'd rather wait for everyone to be present. You can either stay or follow me I'm going to relieve whoever is watching over Anderson." Beginning to walk ahead I had to keep myself from shoulder checking Hannah.

"Z are you saying that we're free? Actually free?" Matt asked. Turning back to him I answered "Yes." The smile he gave me could've lit up Las Vegas. Cupping his hands around his mouth Matt yelled "We're free!" A few others cheered. Feeling a smile of my own I continued to walk away. What is this feeling? Nightmare asked. It's content I replied.

I don't think so, it feels different.

What do you think it is?

I think it's happiness.

Happiness? I had to think hard of when was the last time I was happy. Probably before Julian left with his family.

"What are you planning now and what happened a moment ago?" Ed asked catching up with me. I let out a sigh thinking I should've known they'd follow me. Taking a quick look at him I reply "I plan on locking Anderson and Edgar in the Solitary unit, raid the fridge for some actual food, and find Anderson's stash. Growing up she was never without something that has a kick. What happened just a little while ago I was having an inner dialogue with Nightmare."

"Edgar is still alive?"

"Barely."

"What do you mean? Did you do the same thing?"

"Same thing as Armstrong? Kind of. Nightmare and I infected both of them with a parasite, although Edgars is meant to attack his nerve endings. He'll be in pain until I let him die. Armstrong's is more along the lines of paralysis with disturbing imagery. From now on he won't be able to move and whenever he closes his eyes all he'll see is everything disturbing he's done in life."

I gave Ed a moment to process everything I just said. It didn't take them long to reply "Ok, that sounds fair."

We were in the clearing now to see Mark and Ashe watching over Anderson. Mark let out a 'Woah' at the sight of my eyes. Ashe had to ask "Are you Nightmare or?"

"I'm Z. Nightmare is rummaging through my memories."

"Ok, so your eyes are normally like that?"

"Yes."

"Ok, I can deal."

"Thanks for looking after Anderson. The both of you can join the party at the beach. Or you can help us carry some booze and snacks."

"There's a beach and did I hear 'snacks'?" Mark asked.

"Forget snacks did I hear 'booze'?" Ashe asked.

"Yes to all" I answered.

They both replied "I'll help."

Anderson tried taking the opportunity to make a run for it yet again. She didn't make it far before I wrapped a tendril around her. Fully bound I lifted her off the floor to follow my steps. Ashe whispered to Mark thinking I couldn't hear him "I'll never get used to that." Suppressing the urge to tell him 'I heard that' I rolled my eyes instead.

Walking back into the cafeteria Ed hooked his pinky into mine to say "I'll be right back." I nodded my head in response. Making Anderson face me I asked "Where do you keep the clothes for the inmates?"

"You planning on making cut offs?" she replied sarcastically. Exhausted with her attitude I thought of a joke "Say Aunt Patty what did five fingers say to the face?" The punch line hit her just as hard as my back hand. "Slap!" I answered my own joke. Mark and Ashe laughed behind me. A smirk graced my face as Ed finally joined us. One of the guys told him what just happened and even they chuckled a little.

"I'm not going to ask you again. Either tell me or I'll leave you in your birthday suit in a Solitary room" I warned her. She glared daggers at me as she thought of which one she would prefer. I started counting like she used to do to me growing up "1...2..." "I'd rather be naked than wear anything that's touched any of you", she spat back.

You should've known she'd say that Nightmare told me. Shut it I replied. Taking her into the first Solitary room there was I used the tentacle to rip every piece of clothing off her to shreds. Before closing the door I said "You know I've been thinking who's the real monster? The being who infected all of us or the people who imprisoned innocent lives to do terrible things to each and every one of them."

Anderson was in the process of replying when the door closed between us. Rage not only covered her face it touched her entire body. I said out loud to myself "I guess we're both monsters."